Structure:Overseen by 152 councils, but many services are provided by private care firms

Cost:Free at the point of need, but charges made for dentistry and prescriptions

Cost:Only those with assets under £23,250 get help from the state. The rest have to pay all their costs

Numbers helped:One million every 36 hours

Numbers helped:1.3 million a year get some contribution to care

Further down the line, the commission argues, there should be a one percentage point increase in employee NI for those aged over 40, the next cohort to benefit from social care reforms.

The better off across all ages would also have to pay more with a further one percentage point hike in employee NI for those earning more than £42,000 a year.

To some these will look like unpalatable choices.

A National Insurance hit on the middle aged and older members of the workforce does not sit easily with the drive to get people working longer.

The prescription reforms would hardly be popular with those currently exempt from charges.

But at a time of increasing debate about how to pay for a national health service facing intense demographic pressures, Barker and her fellow commission members have provided some interesting food for thought.